Religion and Non Religion - 8 by Jane Rees

2013

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:33:49 UTC

Materialism/scientific progress + growth of new religious expressions

Ecological Awareness

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:35:30 UTC

2015-07-20 00:37:08 UTC

Growth of ecological awarness has led people being attracted to types of religious traditions that have close connections to nature - ie wicca

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:39:06 UTC

Hecca (example of Wicca) Magic - circle chants where they praise the environment - Mother Earth

Rainbow Healing Circle

In Wicca they engage in chanting to harness the power of 'wind and air'

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:39:39 UTC

The Burning Man (in Nevada) where adherents engage in a festival.

Self Expressionism

They are not allowed to leave any ecological footprint.

2015-07-20 00:43:20 UTC

- Others find the environment to have healing qualities or

- to be spiritual

DOT POINT

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:43:52 UTC

* Factors influencing the growth of new religious spiritualites.

DOT POINT

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:45:55 UTC

* Disenchantment with traditional religious practice/guidance.

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:46:48 UTC

People have been disenchanted because

Complex ethical issues in todays society.

EG: Gay Marriage, Abortion, Clerical Abuse, Sexism, Personal Fulfillment

May not see as relevant.

EG: Ireland passed the recent referendum/ USA

EG: No female priests

2015-07-20 00:48:04 UTC

clerical abuse led to cynicism

and feelings of unsafe nature towards Church

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:51:10 UTC

Finding your own answers with life coaches, books like "The Secret,"

spiritualists, Depak Choppra

2015-07-20 00:51:30 UTC

2015-07-20 00:51:31 UTC

2015-07-20 00:51:58 UTC

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:53:14 UTC

Quotes from 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne

“There is no such thing as a hopeless situation. Every single circumstances of your life can change! ”

“There is a truth deep down inside of you that has been waiting for you to discover it, and that truth is this: you deserve all good things life has to offer.

2015-07-20 00:53:27 UTC

DOT POINT

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:56:16 UTC

Rise of Materialism

2015-07-20 00:57:22 UTC

People are attracted to philosophies that claim to facilitate quick and certain accumulation of wealth for those who follow it.

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:57:40 UTC

Gain material wealth through new religions. Status.

janerees — 2015-07-20 00:59:02 UTC

Prosperity doctrine: Based on 2Cor8:9 "That you, by his poverty become rich"

2015-07-20 00:59:13 UTC

People are attracted to philosophies that claim to facilitate a quick and certain accumulation of wealth for those who follow it.

2015-07-20 01:00:30 UTC

Wealth and prosperity advertised and promoted creates desire to gain wealth

janerees — 2015-07-20 01:00:40 UTC

Consumerism- personal fulfilment, happiness and wellbeing can be purchased as a kind of commodity

janerees — 2015-07-20 01:00:40 UTC

Consumerism- personal fulfilment, happiness and wellbeing can be purchased as a kind of commodity

janerees — 2015-07-20 01:01:04 UTC

EG: Pentecostal (Hillsong)

2015-07-20 01:02:26 UTC

E.g. Individualism

2015-07-20 01:02:28 UTC

Life coaches ie Deepak Chopra

- advocates ways for individuals to gain wealth and prosperity.

- happiness is achieved through monetary gain.

"New Age values are… a non-sectarian society, a non-military culture, healing the environment, sustainable economies,
self-determination, social justice, economic empowerment of the poor, love, compassion in action."

janerees — 2015-07-20 01:06:19 UTC

Alternatively, some people seek NRES as a reaction to materialism

janerees — 2015-07-20 01:07:16 UTC

EG: Burning Man: decomodification, gift giving

2015-07-20 01:12:38 UTC

If you focus on success, you’ll have stress. But if you pursue excellence, success will be guaranteed.

DOT POINT

janerees — 2015-07-21 02:31:21 UTC

janerees — 2015-07-22 03:03:23 UTC

Many people feel connected to the power and beauty of creation and nature

The search for personal fulfilment

2015-07-22 03:12:32 UTC

-people may be looking for a greater sense of personal fulfilment where religious traditions have a void.

- People may be unsatisfied with the response of traditional religions to major issues in modern society (e.g sexism, gay marriage etc)

2015-07-22 03:13:22 UTC

dissatisfaction with traditional forms of religion which no longer provide meaningful understanding of life

Seek to clarify their relationship with society- New Age spiritualties offer alternative rituals and celebrations that help followers feel part of society without being part of a 'traditional religion'. E.g. gay couples given a naming ceremony rather than a formal baptism

2015-07-22 03:15:12 UTC

SPIRITUALISM

janerees — 2015-07-22 03:15:15 UTC

2015-07-22 03:15:39 UTC

Example the mind
body and soul festival has a particular focus on spiritual wellbeing of
individual as they pay for products, tarot card readings, therapies, psychic
readings etc to transform their functioning in the world.

2015-07-22 03:17:32 UTC

Burning Man Festival- encourages individuals to discover and rely on own resources, it is radical self-expression.

2015-07-22 03:19:04 UTC

spiritualismˈ

1.a system of belief or religious practice based on supposed communication with the spirits of the dead, especially through mediums.
2.PHILOSOPHYthe doctrine that the spirit exists as distinct from matter, or that spirit is the only reality.

DOT POINT

janerees — 2015-07-22 03:19:05 UTC

Seeking Ethical Guidelines

2015-07-22 03:19:26 UTC

Diminished role of traditional religions in giving moral guidance

2015-07-22 03:20:09 UTC

In a secular and materialist society, moral relativism occurs where everything seems to become a matter of personal choice, and absence of moral certainty

2015-07-22 03:21:23 UTC

Seeking ethical guidelines reasons: - the sense of moral relativism is heightened by the diminished role of traditional religions in providing moral guidance - While religious traditions still provide guidance, many people find it meaningless and irrelevant. As a consequence, people find themselves in a position of searching for moral guidance

janerees — 2015-07-22 03:21:25 UTC

2015-07-22 03:23:40 UTC

Examples- Wicca has a link and connection to nature, eg ‘power of wind and air,’ they have circle chants and see ecological awareness as a firm ethical guideline

- Burning Man- they leave no physical trace, they are devoted to giving gifts to one another

.

janerees — 2015-07-22 03:25:33 UTC

2015-07-22 03:25:56 UTC

Eg life coaches

2015-07-22 03:27:22 UTC

Example - 'life coaches' - Deepak Chopra Some NRE advocate ways of achieving individual wealth and prosperity - this appeals to those who wish to enhance their wealth, success and happiness in society.

2015-07-22 03:29:33 UTC

Burning man - is a network of people inspired by values reflected in the 10 principles and united in the pursuit of a more creative, connected experience with the world.

2015-07-22 03:33:31 UTC

- Human beings are social creatures and need to have meaningful place in society

- Many modern societies work against this and leave people feeling isolated

- More open expression of sexualities and lifestyles in new religious traditions

- seek to fill the void which is left by emphasis on individualism in modern society

Example

2015-07-22 03:35:10 UTC

Bobbys visit to the psychic